Building Communities, Not Audiences: The Future of the Arts in the United States

As the Executive Director of a Regional Arts Agency, I find this book to be a must-read. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it is a must-own. I've bought several copies, which I have lent out to my Board of Trustees and other arts administrators in my area. I highly encourage arts administrators to read this book NOW.

This is NOT an easy read. It is a bit repetitious with the claim that the Arts will not survive without his solution. It does, however, detail many wonderful Arts organizations and what they are doing to connect with their communities. The real problem for the Arts as I see it, is that there are simply too many other forms of entertainment pulling people in too many directions. Quite frankly, sometimes it is just easier to stay at home.

Mr. Borwick has done a wonderful job sharing not only the need for arts and culture in a community, but the strategies, outcomes, and more! Mr. Borwick has broken down the process into manageable bites that all can understand. As an Executive Director of a nonprofit arts organization, I often find it difficult to put into words what I, and others who work in the arts industry, take for granted to be true. Borwick has done this in a fact based way! This book is an excellent asset for arts organizations, businesses, and community organizers! A definite investment in the future!

Hey, this book is awesome for folks working with Non Profit Organizations. Filled with great ideas and information need to be successful.

Ordered this book for a class. Great book and quick delivery.

I found this cliché ridden book rather admonishing of arts organizations, exhorting them that they try to be all things to all people.No pressure! And beyond that, they have to somehow transform their communities while abandoning any presumed authority to know more about their given art form than the average Joe or Josephine. The hegemony of elitist white male European men who accumulated a canon must be subverted! You get the idea. To these authors, all saying the same thing in slippery NPR-speak,everything is about power and racial/gender identity and not the substance behind great art. In fact, they don't like that you keep trying to say there is such a thing as quality and that you think it's important. Of course, they defensively couch their sentiments but it's really right there. The arts are screwed only because these people are running them.

Haven’t read a chapter yet, was distracted by the unalignment of the pages throughout the book. Maybe it’s just mine, or maybe you won’t mind.

My copy came from Wonder Books and is page by page printed backwards, with chapter 1 at the end. It's intact otherwise, but it will be very difficult to follow.